The fashion business is no cakewalk. For a model to gain the respect of designers, photographers, editors, and casting directors is no small feat; and when a girl is not only respected but also revered, she becomes a legend in her own right. The industry icons are models who have built stellar careers, they've snagged every cover, walked every show, booked every campaign, and lived to tell the tale. Before you can be a true supermodel, you have to become one of the industry's preferred stars and these girls are all bonafide favorites.

Averaging around 7 years at blue chip level under their belts, they bring experience and professionalism to every job and never fail to elevate the image into the realm of art. These are the true model's models and their endless stream of power bookings reflects that.

Always essential. Always exciting. Alek Wek is a model, activist, businesswoman and force to be reckoned with. Her fashion debut revolutionized fashion's concept of beauty and she continues to influence and impact.

With the pointed support of the Katie Grand camp (Love, Industrie, Vogue Russia), repeat booking with Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and campaigns for Loewe and Moschino, Ms Ambrosio joins the latest trend in fashion: the cross-over from the sexy market into high editorial.

The more womanly she becomes, the more beguiling she grows. Besides, she is one the great money machines of modern model times and one can rest assured that her bookings were not inexpensive. Ample proof that when great beauties grow up they acquire a priceless aura.

One of the great campaign champions of recent times, Angela Lindvall has slowly but surely evolved into that rare and coveted level where only supermodels dare to tread. Do you notice that her campaign work is almost always "only-girl", for the best clients, throughout her career. And she still maintains that quality.

There is a feeling that fashion will always need and that is the ideal of an obscenely rich, ultra-sexy, super-woman pulsing with an almost dismissive beauty. Nobody gives that feeling better than Ms Kass and for that reason she remains one of the most bankable faces (and bodies) in the business right now. Just ask the raft of clients who continue to sign her on as being vital to their brands.

The signature face of Estee Lauder Cosmetics and its array of blue chip fragrances has capped off a dream editorial career with a dream contract. Her longevity has been a masterpiece of management on the part of her very devoted agency.

From the minute she arrived on the fashion scene as a punk rock loving teenager, Devon’s unique beauty has remained unmatched. Instantly recognizable and eternally sought after, Devon’s appearance is always met with joy.

Like a fine wine Elise just gets better with each passing year. From her legendary work with Prada and Steven Meisel, to her continued place among Raf Simons' favorites, the talented Ms. Crombez remains most wanted among the industry's top talents.

It’s hard to label Erin O’ Connor’s role in fashion as anything but prevalent. The English-born muse has served as a subject to top designers, artists and photographers, appearing on the cover of numerous Vogues to i-D, walking every show worth walking from Chanel to Versace. Her iconic crop cut, accentuated jawline and elongated limbs epitomize glam and merit androgyny as always-in-fashion. She’s cultivated a steadfast career at the height of supermodeldom, her presence inspiring the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier, who would have her as the face of his fragrance. She made a return to modeling after having a son, walking the Marc Jacobs’s F/W 14 show, then gracing the cover of Vogue Italia’s “Age Issue” and landing a spot in LOVE magazine’s “Talents” issue.

From the moment she appeared as the Wonderbra girl in those unforgettable 90s ads, Eva Herzigova has had the attention of the entire world. Moving with ease from commercial work to the most exclusive of high fashion clients, Herzigova has had the kind of diverse and successful career most models dream about. Nearly 20 years later and she's still going strong!

Frankie Rayder came rocking back this season with ads for Roberto Cavalli , Stella McCartney and Pinko while nestling in as one of the 14 cover girls of V magazine's September extravaganza. Welcome back Frankie.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and Gemma Ward’s disappearance from the scene only made the fashion faithful want her more. With comeback appearance opening Prada and each bit of new work serving to remind us of how essential she is, Ms. Ward always leaves em’ wanting more.

From Paolo Roversi to Steven Meisel, Guinevere Van Seenus is locked in place as the model photographers find incredibly inspirational. Her body of work could be in an art gallery and as a matter of fact, has done exactly that!

An icon’s work is never truly done and Hannelore Knuts has surely proven that to be true. Since her entry in the fashion game in the early 2000s, her chiseled features have ridden the “Belgium Wave” into constant appearances in Vogue Italia, Self Service, V, and i-D. Her constant show presence for brands like Jean Paul Gautier, Rick Owens, Moschino add to Gucci’s current ad endorsement of the forever muse.

The Danish beauty with the expressive gaze and artistic spirit has done it all as a model. Time spent as a VS Angel - check. Starring in the sexiest music video ever - check. Gracing the cover of every magazine imaginable - double check.

As a representative of Parisian chic, Inès de la Fressange has stood as an Icon because of her exquisite beauty, fashionable disposition, and lengthy roster of work since the 80's. A current contract with L'Oreal Paris, collaboration with Uniqlo, and being a muse to Karl Lagerfeld while walking Chanel runways doesn't hurt her cause either. Gracing recent covers of Vogue Paris and Elle France, the impeccable style star shows her aura will never diminish.

The patent-pending glare, the nonchalant refinement, the time spent fronting a rock band - Jamie Bochert is one of the coolest girls ever to set foot in fashion. In her decade long career Jamie has served as both model and muse to some of the industry's power players, when Steven Miesel, Marc Jacobs and Karl Lagerfeld look to you for inspiration you've earned icon status.

A peerless work ethic and a face that can’t be stopped, Julia Stegner still sets hearts racing and still works with fashion’s best and brightest. Meisel, Inez & Vinoodh and Daniel Jackson have Julia on speed dial and she remains a necessary presence within the industry.

Eventual supermodeldom was always in the cards for Ms Kurkova. Karolina has always been able to book the most mass market of campaigns while maintaining an unbroken high prestige editorial pace. Like one observer shrewdly noted "Karolina Kurkova is two models in one body." And what a body that is!

As a model with one of the all-time great editorial careers Owen has worked with every photographer and label worth mentioning and her work (most notably those unforgettable Vogue Italia covers and Versace ads) has stood the test of time. With an exciting career resurgence introducing the androgynous beauty to a whole new generation Owen stands as an enduring icon of edgy, uncompromising fashion.

After a brief hiatus to have a family, Maggie Rizer is back and bigger than ever! With key appearances in American Vogue, Vogue Japan, and Vogue Germany, the original redhead remains a key favorite of top photographers in the business.

Malgosia Bela reigns as Next's resident icon in between her legacy of fragrance campaigns, cutting edge covers (Self-Service) and blue chip editorials (Vogue Paris) even as she logs a steady body of campaign bookings season after season.

More than a model, Mariacarla is a muse and the body of clients to whom she serves as a muse these days is the best of the best (of the best). Her drive and intelligence is the definition of a modern icon in modeling. All bow.

Known for her platinum blonde hair and endless legs, Nadja has intrigued and inspired legendary photographers ever since her debut in the early 90s. A fearless femme fatale who perfected standoffish sexuality, Nadja’s presence in front of the lens has never wavered. As evidenced by her two recent Vogue covers, Nadja is back and as sexy and dangerous as ever!

The fabulous Pat Cleveland has as many attributes to her name as she has moves in her arsenal. From twirling the catwalk during the legendary fashion moment, Battle of Versailles, to sitting for inimitable greats Irving Penn, to languidly posing as muse for Halston, Yves Saint Laurent, & Stephen Burrows, her dynasty has been colossal. With her continuous editorial and recent ad work, Ms Cleveland clearly has no intention of slowing down.

Raquel Zimmerman has taken her mutable beauty, her absolute professionalism and her ability to inspire editors, photographers and designers to the ultimate heights of her career. This is the face of longevity, grace and inarguable elegance. Of such things are icons made.

An unforgettable name, an unforgettable face, and a talent for embodying characters that makes her the queen of method modeling, Shalom Harlow is the total package. Photographers adore her, clients can't get enough, and designers consider her not just a model, but a muse for the ages.

Fashion's favorite blueblood proves her worth with a steady stream of blue chip campaigns ranging from Chanel to Celine. And to think this quintessential muse landed in NY almost a decade ago with a shocking nose ring as a signature statement. She's legendary now.

One of the “original supermodels” and a true model’s model, Tatjana Patitz earned praise from the likes of Grace Coddington and Anna Wintour, and formed lasting relationships with legendary photographers like Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh. Her fine yet unforgettable features have graced numerous American and British Vogues and Patitz was a ubiquitous presence in fashion through the ‘80s and ‘90s, seen, amongst a multitude of others, in Jil Sander and L’Oreal campaigns. Peter Lindbergh continues to frequently photograph her, most recently for Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair France, L’Oreal, Muse Magazine and British Vogue.

After a hiatus to focus on family, the late 90's/early 00's Icon Vivien returned in 2013 with a Vogue Paris Mert and Marcus editorial as her first shoot and has followed that up appearances in some of the coolest campaigns. Her ability to transcend time and her chameleon-like nature guarantees that she will always be in demand.

When Abbey Lee stepped onto the scene she instantly created a demand for laid back ultra-chic Australians and quickly became the industry’s go to girl for cool. In the years since she’s experimented with hair colors and looks, but has retained her trademark attitude and in demand status. As longterm face for multiple fragrances including Gucci’s Flora and Versace’s Yellow Diamond, Abbey Lee is always present even when she’s off making action flicks with Hollywood bigwigs.

With her pixie crop and bleached blonde hair, Agyness Deyn came to define cool for the 00s. The Mancunian modeling sensation racked up an impressive array of work with everyone from Burberry to Armani, all while garnering the kind of press recognition not seen since the days of the supers. Though she's added acting to her repertoire, Aggy remains an icon of rebellious chic.

Blessed with an innate elegance and undeniable presence in editorials, it was only a matter of time before bombshell Andreea Diaconu rose straight to iconic status. Her incredible track record has covers for American Vogue, Self-Service, WSJ, and Vogue Paris under her belt. And with steady campaign work for power players like Celine, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, and Dolce & Gabbana, Andreea’s reign refuses to let up.

This French beauty has been a powerhouse ever since she broke out of the Alexander Wang camp to explode as one of the coolest editorial propositions of the moment. She has continued to command the attention of fashion’s visionaries with countless campaigns in everything from Bottega Veneta to Donna Karan, Chanel, Kenzo & Armani. Books like American Vogue, i-D, Numero, and V Magazine have called upon her countlessly to bring trendy wares to life.

Consistent work with the industry’s top names means that Cameron’s powerful beauty is never out of season and her intellect never fails to intrigue. Strength and a sophisticated sensuality may be what initially draws clients to Cameron, but her articulate, creative, and thoughtful point of view is what keeps them coming back for more, and more, and more.

As a bombshell with a bang Candice has the unique position of being at the top of the sexy market and the very top of the high fashion editorial market as well. Her winning smile and flawless body have made her a favorite of designers with a body conscious edge and photographers looking to capture sensuality. With a Vogue Italia cover, a Victoria’s Secret contract and a consistent presence in editorial Candice has the best of both worlds.

8 years ago Caroline Trentini leaped into the pages of American Vogue and the magazine hasn't been the same since. A perennial favorite of Anna Wintour, Steven Meisel, Craig McDean, David Sims, Patrick Demarchelier and every designer under the sun; Caroline has made her mark and is in it for the long haul.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder! Catherine McNeil's return to fashion shows the Aussie beauty stronger than ever and dominating like never before. Campaigns for Jimmy Choo, Donna Karan and Prada push her into the stratosphere!

Whether she’s sharing a hilarious tweet or Irish dancing down a runway, Coco Rocha brings a welcome dose of energy and wit to every project she takes on. With covers for Vogue Italia, Numero and countless others she’s proved herself as a high fashion commodity, but the fearless star is equally interesting off-duty. With hosting gigs for The Face, Entertainment Tonight and MTV’s VMA red carpet Rocha is delving into lucrative new territory as a multi-media personality.

With her classic French beauty and elegant demeanor Constance Jablonski was the perfect choice to front campaigns for beauty giant Estee Lauder. With her multi-year mega contract and constant presence in editorials Jablonski balances the best of high fashion and commercial work all while remaining a favorite of Demarchelier and Testino.

From her tenure as the best known plus size model on the planet, to her current status as a top model du jour Crystal Renn has charted out a unique career that has made her an essential part of the fashion industry. A favorite of directional designers from Karl Lagerfeld to Jean Paul Gaultier, Renn is known for her skillful posing and dramatic good looks. As a model, author and now a photographer she’s proven herself a remarkable talent.

As the official face of fashion’s new minimalism Daria Strokous’ austere beauty is favored by the creme of the designer crop - with Raf Simons, Willy Vanderperre and Steven Meisel in her corner the ultra-luxe beauty has racked up an enviable array of work from Dior campaigns to sexier fare for La Perla.

A true English rose, Edie Campbell is a muse and beyond. With the perfect timeless face, Edie Campbell can look like a child of the '60s and a thoroughly modern muse all at once. She was first photographed by Mario Testino for British Vogue when she was a mere 15, and quickly became Burberry’s darling. More than a model, she’s cultivated a perfect career amongst a myriad of avocations including jockeying and a degree in art history. Once she chopped her locks into fashion’s most chic mullet she proved she had a signature edge and has since served as a spring of inspiration for top photographers and designers. Consistent work for the top brands and magazines prove how versatile and in-demand Edie continually is.

Who says a high fashion model can't be scintillatingly sexy? Edita Vilkeviciute handles both sides of the market with ease and grace, vamping it up as she flanks Tom Cruise on the cover of W one minute, then adding classic elegance to Calvin Klein's fragrance ads the next - best of both worlds!

As the reigning queen of androgynous cool, Freja Beha consistently delivers an attitude that appeals to discerning men and women worldwide. Sure she's breathtakingly beautiful, but what really makes Freja an icon is her ability to convey nonchalant charm and make every outfit look easy. Whether she's in Prada, Saint Laurent, Valentino, or serving as the newly appointed ambassador for Maybelline, Freja simply radiates cool.

A perennial catwalk favorite, Hanne Gaby's effortless-yet-eccentric chicness keeps top designers returning for more. With her strong fashion aesthetic and unique point of view, Hanne is a girl who continues to inspire clients, and has become the model even style makers consider a style maker - as evidenced by her being given the industry vote for Best Streetstyle in our Model of the Year awards.

Irina Shayk has always been turning heads at breakneck speeds, and the red-hot Russian has only gotten better every year since her start as the face of Intimissimi lingerie and modeling in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue (clients she still keeps). A decade long career that spans from money to high fashion and back has put Shayk in industry high standing. She landed a L’Oreal contract along with being an ambassador for AVON, recent campaigns for Alberta Ferretti and Givenchy and had cover appearances in 2016 alone for W Magazine, Vogue (Russia, Germany, Japan, Turkey editions), Numéro and Interview. Pretty much she’s hotter than ever–so it’s no wonder she also finally made a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut. A healthy social media ranking and top editorials shot by the biggest names in photography makes Shayk a major force on all fronts as she cements her place in the new generation of iconic faces.

Discovered during a brief break from architecture school, Iselin rose through the ranks to become one of the most immaculately booked girls of the decade. Her editorial and campaign track record remains pristine to this day.

Wham, bam, thank you Stam! The girl with the unforgettable face has amassed an impeccable body of work that speaks for itself. Vogue Italia covers, Miu Miu ads, editorials in every magazine worth naming - Stam came in at the top of the game and has remained there ever since.

When you're a standing favorite of photographers like Meisel, Klein, and McDean it's no wonder you've become one of the most in demand models in recent years. This ethereal Aussie beaut has been at it since 2010 making appearances in campaigns for Balenciaga, Burberry, Celine, Dior, Givenchy, & Louis Vuitton; editorials in every major title you can imagine; and walking in a record-breaking number of shows. And she was able to do all that while studying for med school exams. Checkmate.

As full time face of Michael Kors’ billion dollar empire Pedaru is the embodiment of Kors’ luxe ideals. The lucrative contract keeps the Estonian beauty busy but she’s hard at work elsewhere frequently appearing in campaigns for equally aspirational labels like Gucci and Belstaff.

Her show runs from NY through to Milan and Paris are nothing short of impeccable and consequently every blue chip option imaginable is log-jammed on Kasia's charts. She's one of fashion's most coveted and among the most consistently in demand.

An English rose with attitude to spare! Lily Donaldson’s pristine looks have graced the pages of Vogue, Bazaar and W for years and she shows no signs of slowing down. In recent years Donaldson’s work has edged into more commercial territory with power bookings for H&M, Aldo and Swarovski proving her versatile visage can add a touch of class to any client’s campaign.

A favorite of top tier photographers and a girl committed to creating iconic imagery, Magdalena Frackowiak sets the bar high. With campaigns for Prada and Ralph Lauren in the bag, as well as a steady stream of impeccable editorials, Magdalena is a girl on fire.

Artist, model, muse, single name sensation and all around bon vivant, Sasha is the kind of model photographers dream of. No wonder so many of them list her as their favorite, Inez and Vinoodh, Steven Meisel, Patrick Demarchelier, Craig McDean the list goes on. With her trademark death stare and consummate professionalism, Ms. Pivovarova has risen to the highest peak of modeling success.

An effortlessly cool sophisticate with an artistic sensibility and killer body, Saskia is the type of model who just gets "it" - and has since day one. Having shot every important campaign from Armani to Chanel to Givenchy to Saint Laurent to Versace, there's no doubt that Saskia serves as inspiration to many a major designer, stylist and photographer. But more than anything else, Saskia has shown that women don't stop being relevant once they pass the age of 25.

Once again, Suvi is the name on everyone's lips. Out of nowhere Mrs. Riggs managed to score that coveted Calvin contract, a fragrance campaign and the cover of Vogue Paris' March edition. The momentum just keeps building and we forsee the rise of a true high fashion power player.

Back when she was on our Top 50 list, we said her career was unstoppable. Now, the doll-faced, Chinese gem Xiao Wen Ju can inscribe her name in the uppermost echelons of model muses. Maybe it’s her million-and-counting expressions or her leggy lengths or her inimitable style, either way you don’t wind up on accident with five Vogue China covers, fronting Vogue Italia and Australia, or shooting with almost every blue-chip photographer in the book and finally this year, becoming a L'Oreal spokeswoman. So chalk it up to her endless effervescence and loyalty to her craft, Xiao Wen Ju makes being one of the best look easy.